Kitchen Aids are great. I just bought a Cooks for JC Penny. It was on sale from for $139 normally $300. It has a larger motor than the Kitchen Aid, 5 qt bowl, and the same attachments. I love it!
KA all the way!
I bought a pink one this summer and I am actually mad at myself for waiting so long. At least I'll have it for christmas this year.
Kitchen Aid Artsia are great and withing your price range especially if you find a sale. They also have good rebates. My Kitchen Aid is about 20 years old and I have never had any problems with it and works like new. Plus I love all the attachments that you can get. My recent attachment is the ice cream maker. I just wish the ice cream was harder when the mixer slows down. My mother has been giving them as wedding gifts to her grandchildren and my son is next on the list. My soon to be daughter wants the light blue one. Hope you don't have too much trouble choosing one after you see all the colors.
I too am in the market for a KA I really want the pink one. Does anyone know if you can buy this color anywhere or only online? Also whats the best size to buy?
I know Lowes is having a 20% off on all small appliances this weekend.
I have a Bosh Universal mixer that I love. It has replaced all of my KA appliances. The base sits on my counter all the time and the different attatchments I keep on my shelves and are easier to grab as I need them rather than lugging out the heavy KA ones. Don't get me wront, I liked my KA too, but the Bosch fits better. And because I can leave it out and easily switch out attatchments, I use them all more often than I ever did the KA ones. Bosch has a better motor than the KA and one of the nice features is that the lid fits completely on so there is NO stuff flying around.
I would also look into the DeLonghi, it also has a better motor than the KA and has similar features to the Bosch in terms of switching out attatchments.
On the motor end, the Bosch has a feature where if the motor gets overloaded it shuts down, thus saving the mixer, plus it has a part that will actually break, that's meant to protect the motor. It's cheaper to replace that little part than have to buy a new mixer. The part is like a fail safe. The reason I picked the Bosch over DeLonghi was simply because the Bosch has a lower profile and easily fits under my old low cabinets. They're both excellent machines and IMO superior to the KA.
KA is great if you can get a good deal. I don't think they're worth their retail prices at all. But if you can get a good price, go for it.
About a year ago I gave my 1st KA to my DS. He decorated it with red flames so it looks manly. I replaced it with a new green KA and love it.
Get the biggest KA you can find for that price and look for specials including the extra attachments!!!!!
I have the 6 qrt pro KA. I have been using it steady for the past 6 years. It has literally done thousands of cakes. I love it. I also have a 20 qrt for larger batches of things, but it is as old as the hills. I t is so old it has a transmission in it with regular gears, but it is my workhorse and has been faithful for many years. KA is good about standing by their products. Whatever you do go with a stronger motor, if you are planning on doing alot of cakes and icing you'll need it. Good Luck.
Kitchen Aid!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any size you can afford.
I think KitchenAid used to make an excellent mixer when it was manufactured by Hobart. I don't think the newer models are as well made, I have one old original 5 quart K5A and a newer one, the old one has held up perfectly, the newer one has had the ring around the top fall off and the plastic on and off knob crack in half and fall off. I bought a 7 quart Kenwood on closeout sale at Williams Sonoma 4 years ago and I swear by this mixer, twice the power of KA but lighter to pick up and move. Same planetary action as the KA too. I believe De Longhi bought out Kenwood. They are more than $300.00 but the closeout price I got was $245.00 best money I've ever spent.
I actually bought a Wolfgang stand mixer. It works really well for me. I always wanted a KA, but my husband liked the hp and all that other stuff, this one had. I've had no problems, but I did demolish my whisk attachment. Duh me, forgot to take it off while making my "Kitchen Sink" cookies. Great deal on both mixers though.
KA - watch for those sales! I got my KA 6qt. for a steal - it was a display model! 
AngelaDay, do you know who actually manufactures the Wolfgang Puck mixers?
I'm getting mixed reviews on the KA mixers so now I'm kinda wary of buying one. I can say though that my mother owned a Kenwood mixer for about 30 years before it finally kicked the bucket.
They sure don't make stuff like they used to anymore. 
Esskaym- I have the Wolfgang Puck mixer, and have been talking it up, but I am not very happy. I have had it less than a year, and the gears are all screwed up, and I only use it for batter and frosting. I am going to have to get a new mixer. I have e-mailed the Wolfgang Puck Inc. to see what they say about it. I am now also looking for a new mixer. I am checking out the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixer, but don't know anything about it except it has 400watts, and I don't know if that is enough.
I need another KitchenAid now. LOL Buy extra bowls if you can!
Rachel
I found some really good deals on the Hamilton Beach Stand Mixers. Like the KA, they are 400 watts, all metal and come in cute colours. Also been seeing some great prices on the Jenn-Air Attrezzi mixers. They are gorgeous...but are they any good???
Kitchen Aid here all the way, Kohl's by us has those all the time on sale the 575 watt one with a 6 quart lift bowl for around 275.00 Nice colors too, also check Amazon.com sometimes they have left overs in an odd color for 199.00 My friend got a nice rust colored one there and I think they had a special on shipping , just have to watch. Enjoy....... 
I'm not the biggest KA fan. I have something similar to the Bosch mixer. It is the Magic Mill DLX2000/Electrolux Assistent. It can handle MUCH heartier batters and such (have yet to make MMF). Most bread makers swear by them and prefer them HANDS DOWN to a KA which just doesn't have the power to do it. Since I don't want a mixer for one thing and a mixer for another, I got the strongest period and love it. Comes with tons of optional accessories too and easy to clean.
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